Copy ProtectionDVD-Audio is a
copy-protected format that allows artists and record labels to keep you
from making “illegal” recordings of the music. Many labels opt to not
use the copy protection. Others allow you to make a few copies. It is
basically up to the label or the artist as to how they want to encrypt
the disc. Another deterrent to copying DVD-Audio discs and sharing them
on the Net or ripping them on a hard drive is that songs on DVD-Audio
are huge files. Some day, demand for DVD-Audio might be so strong that
stealing the songs will be a big issue for labels, but for now, making
consumers want to buy the format is a far bigger issue. Also, if anyone
wanted to copy music from DVD-Audio, they can certainly take the analog
output of the stereo version of the record and use that to rip on their
computer or MP3 device.

The Future of DVD-AudioThe
format war is far from over, but so far DVD-Audio has support from 3.5
of the five major labels. Warner Brothers (WEA) is the driving force
behind the DVD-Audio format so far, but EMI, BMG and Universal Music
Group have started releasing DVD-Audio tiles to the market. SACD is
mainly supported by Sony Music and Universal Music. Both formats in the
high-resolution audio format war have support from various indie and/or
audiophile labels.

Industry experts predict that
what will allow DVD-Audio to replace CDs in the marketplace will be the
proposed “DualDisc” - a "flip disc" that has a DVD-Audio layer on one
side and a CD layer on the other side. This proposed disc is reportedly
designed to replace the CD as the format major labels will utilize for
releasing new music. In principle, the idea sounds great, but it has
yet to be approved by the DVD Forum (although this is expected very
shortly). Another potential problem with the DualDisc is the thickness
of the disc - it is lightly thicker than a regular one, and there were
initial concerns (that turn out to be unfounded) that they might get
stuck in slot-loading players such as those found in cars. Car audio is
a very important market for the playback of pre-recorded music,
including DVD-Audio and DVD-Video.

SACD has a “hybrid” disc that has shipped to the marketplace and has
sold hundreds of thousands of copies to date, with albums like Pink
Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and the Bob Dylan catalog. Hybrid SACDs
play in CD players just like normal CDs do, as well as playing back
high-resolution stereo and surround sound music.

ConclusionIf
you are looking for a new way to make music sound better or more
exciting in your system, you might want to order up a few DVD-Audio
titles. There aren’t thousands of big titles yet, but many of the ones
on the market are very well done and new titles are released each week.
You might find that you like listening to music with the added
resolution of stereo DVD-Audio or you might fall in love with the
possibilities of hearing your music mixed for surround.